Breaking news issued by Mets manager Carlos Mendoza: Jesse Winker has been shut down from all baseball activities and will likely be sidelined for the rest of the season.

Winker has been on the injured list since July due to back inflammation but just recently began a rehab assignment in Single-A. In his first and only game in with St. Lucie, Winker went 0-5 with four strikeouts. For the time being, New York will have to rely on their foursome of talented outfielders: Juan Soto, Brandon Nimmo, Cedric Mullins and Starling Marte. Defensive specialists Jose Siri and Tyrone Taylor are also on the injured list. Siri fractured his tibia in April, while Taylor was just added to the Mets injured list due to a strained hamstring. Luckily for the Mets, both players are targeting a mid-September return.

Riddled with injuries all season, Winker appeared in only 26 games for the Mets this season. In 81 plate appearances, Winker totaled 16 hits, 10 RBIs, one home run, one stolen base, and 10 walks.

This injury comes at a bad time for Winker, who’ll be a free agent after this season. He’ll spend his offseason rehabbing before looking to sign with a team heading into the 2026 season.

In the meantime, the Mets may look to the free-agent market in order to sign a pinch-hit bat for the end of September. If this player proves themselves, they may find a spot on New York’s postseason roster, with the opportunity to pinch-hit in crucial moments.